Welded stent having a welded soluble core

ABSTRACT

A welded stent and stent delivery system, with a stent including a first strut having a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the first strut nickel titanium soluble core; and a second strut having a second strut nickel titanium alloy layer and nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around the second strut nickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being connected to the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer with a weld. The first and second strut nickel titanium alloy layers are made of a nickel titanium alloy, the first and second strut nickel titanium soluble cores are made of a nickel titanium soluble material, and the weld is made of an alloy of the nickel titanium alloy and the nickel titanium soluble material.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Division of and claims the benefit of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/833,588 filed Mar. 15, 2013. The disclosures ofwhich are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field of this disclosure is medical implant devices,particularly, welded stents and stent delivery systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stents are generally cylindrical shaped devices that are radiallyexpandable to hold open a segment of a blood vessel or other anatomicallumen after implantation into the body lumen. Stents have been developedwith coatings to deliver drugs or other therapeutic agents.

Stents are used in conjunction with balloon catheters in a variety ofmedical therapeutic applications including intravascular angioplasty.For example, a balloon catheter device is inflated during PTCA(percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) to dilate a stenoticblood vessel. The stenosis may be the result of a lesion such as aplaque or thrombus. After inflation, the pressurized balloon exerts acompressive force on the lesion thereby increasing the inner diameter ofthe affected vessel. The increased interior vessel diameter facilitatesimproved blood flow. Soon after the procedure, however, a significantproportion of treated vessels re-narrow.

To prevent restenosis, short flexible cylinders, or stents, constructedof metal or various polymers are implanted within the vessel to maintainlumen size. The stents acts as a scaffold to support the lumen in anopen position. Various configurations of stents include a cylindricaltube defined by a mesh, interconnected stents or like segments. Someexemplary stents are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,292,331 to Boneau,U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,127 to Globerman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,732 to Wiktor,U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,762 to Palmaz and U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,955 to Lau.Balloon-expandable stents are mounted on a collapsed balloon at adiameter smaller than when the stents are deployed. Stents can also beself-expanding, growing to a final diameter when deployed withoutmechanical assistance from a balloon or like device.

Stents can currently be made of nitinol, which is a nickel titaniumalloy. The shape memory and super elastic properties of nitinol areuseful in medical devices. Unfortunately, nitinol is difficult to weldbecause nitinol forms an oxide layer on its surface that makes itdifficult for the melt of the weld pool to reach the base metal duringthe welding process and achieve a good weld. Further, nitinol welds tendto be brittle, increasing the chance of weld failure. Weldingdifficulties can increase stent manufacturing costs due to increasedmanufacturing time and added quality control requirements. Poor weldscan also decrease the performance of stents in use should the welds failafter implantation in the patient.

Other problems exist with drug eluting stents, which currently employexterior coatings with or without polymers on metal struts to hold adrug for subsequent elution and delivery of the drug to surroundingtissue. Unfortunately, the coatings can be fragile and can fracture andfragment during manufacture, delivery, deployment, or use. Fractureduring manufacture increases the cost and complexity of manufacture.Fracture during delivery, deployment, or use can reduce theeffectiveness of the stent due to lost drug and can pose a risk to thepatient if fragments block blood flow. The drug elutes from the coatingsurface, so the duration of drug elution is limited by the coatingthickness, i.e., the mean diffusion length of the drug within thepolymer coating. Concerns have also been raised over the long-termeffects of polymers in contact with the body.

It would be desirable to have a welded stent and stent delivery systemthat would overcome the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides a stent delivery system including acatheter; a sheath disposed around the catheter; and a stent disposed onthe catheter. The stent forms a tubular body and includes: a firststrut, the first strut having in transverse cross section a first strutnickel titanium alloy layer and a first strut nickel titanium solublecore, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed aroundand immediately adjacent to the first strut nickel titanium solublecore; and a second strut, the second strut having in transverse crosssection a second strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a second strutnickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloylayer being disposed around and immediately adjacent to the second strutnickel titanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloylayer being connected to the first strut nickel titanium alloy layerwith a weld. The first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and the secondstrut nickel titanium alloy layer are made of a nickel titanium alloy,the first strut nickel titanium soluble core and the second strut nickeltitanium soluble core are made of a nickel titanium soluble material,the weld is made of an alloy of the nickel titanium alloy and the nickeltitanium soluble material, and the weld further connects the first strutnickel titanium soluble core and the second strut nickel titaniumsoluble core.

Another aspect of the invention provides a stent forming a tubular bodyincluding a first strut, the first strut having in transverse crosssection a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a first strutnickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloylayer being disposed around and immediately adjacent to the first strutnickel titanium soluble core; and a second strut, the second struthaving in transverse cross section a second strut nickel titanium alloylayer and a second strut nickel titanium soluble core, the second strutnickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around and immediatelyadjacent to the second strut nickel titanium soluble core, the secondstrut nickel titanium alloy layer being connected to the first strutnickel titanium alloy layer with a weld. The first strut nickel titaniumalloy layer and the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer are made ofa nickel titanium alloy, the first strut nickel titanium soluble coreand the second strut nickel titanium soluble core are made of a nickeltitanium soluble material, the weld is made of an alloy of the nickeltitanium alloy and the nickel titanium soluble material, and the weldfurther connects the first strut nickel titanium soluble core and thesecond strut nickel titanium soluble core.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of manufacturing astent including providing a first strut having in transverse crosssection a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a first strutnickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloylayer being disposed around and immediately adjacent to the first strutnickel titanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloylayer being made of a nickel titanium alloy, the first strut nickeltitanium soluble core being made of a nickel titanium soluble material;providing a second strut having in transverse cross section a secondstrut nickel titanium alloy layer and a second strut nickel titaniumsoluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer beingdisposed around and immediately adjacent to the second strut nickeltitanium soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layerbeing made of the nickel titanium alloy, the second strut nickeltitanium soluble core being made of the nickel titanium solublematerial; positioning the first strut adjacent to the second strut at aweld point; at the weld point, melting portions of the first strutnickel titanium alloy layer, the first strut nickel titanium solublecore, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer, and the second strutnickel titanium soluble core to form a weld pool including the nickeltitanium alloy from the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and thesecond strut nickel titanium alloy layer, the weld pool furtherincluding the nickel titanium soluble material from the first strutnickel titanium soluble core and the second strut nickel titaniumsoluble core; and cooling the weld pool to form a weld connecting thefirst strut nickel titanium alloy layer to the second strut nickeltitanium alloy layer.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention willbecome further apparent from the following detailed description of thepresently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merelyillustrative of the invention, rather than limiting the scope of theinvention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stent delivery system made inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a welded stent made in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section view of a weld region of a weldedstent made in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 4A-4C are transverse cross section views of a weld region in amethod of manufacture of a welded stent in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of manufacture of a welded stent inaccordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stent delivery system made inaccordance with the invention. The stent delivery system 100 includes acatheter 105, a sheath 102 disposed around the catheter 105, and a stent120 disposed on the catheter 105. In this embodiment, the stent 120 is aself-expanding stent. FIG. 1 illustrates the stent delivery system 100with the stent 120 expanded and deployed after the sheath 102 has beenretracted or the catheter 105 has been advanced. Before the stent 120 isdeployed, the stent 120 is disposed on the catheter 105 within thesheath 102. The stent 120 is operable for use in a vessel having avessel wall forming a vessel lumen. The stent 120 is a welded stent inwhich one or more struts interconnect to form a tubular body. In oneembodiment, the stent delivery system 100 can include retention means111, such as mechanical or adhesive structures, for retaining the stent120 on the catheter 105 until the stent 120 is deployed.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a welded stent made in accordance with theinvention. The stent includes one or more struts interconnected to forma tubular body. The stent can include a first strut having in transversecross section a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a firststrut nickel titanium soluble core, with the first strut nickel titaniumalloy layer being disposed around and immediately adjacent to the firststrut nickel titanium soluble core. The stent can further include asecond strut having in transverse cross section a second strut nickeltitanium alloy layer and a second strut nickel titanium soluble core,with the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed aroundand immediately adjacent to the second strut nickel titanium solublecore. The second strut nickel titanium alloy layer of the second strutcan be connected to the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer of thefirst strut with a weld. The first strut nickel titanium alloy layer andthe second strut nickel titanium alloy layer are made of a nickeltitanium alloy, and the first strut nickel titanium soluble core and thesecond strut nickel titanium soluble core are made of a nickel titaniumsoluble material. The weld is made of an alloy of the nickel titaniumalloy (from the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and the secondstrut nickel titanium alloy layer) and the nickel titanium solublematerial (from the first strut nickel titanium soluble core and thesecond strut nickel titanium soluble core). In one embodiment, the weldfurther connects the first strut nickel titanium soluble core and thesecond strut nickel titanium soluble core. The stent 120 can beinstalled in the stent delivery system of FIG. 1 for implantation in abody lumen, such as a vessel lumen. In one embodiment, the stent 120 canbe self-expanding. In another embodiment, the stent 120 can be expandedby a balloon or another device. When the stent 120 is balloon-expanded,the catheter 105 may be any variety of balloon catheters, such as a PTCA(percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty) balloon catheter,capable of supporting a balloon during angioplasty.

Referring to FIG. 2, the stent 120 includes a number of struts 130interconnected to form the tubular body of the stent 120. The stent 120includes at least one opening 132 and has a central axis 134 with theopenings 132 around the central axis. In one embodiment, the struts 130can be separate continuous sinusoidal rings encircling the central axis134, with the peaks of the sinusoidal rings welded together at weldregions 136 where adjacent sinusoidal rings intersect. In anotherembodiment, the struts 130 can be part of a single sinusoidal wire whichspirals around the central axis 134, with the peaks of the singlesinusoidal wire welded together at weld regions 136 where adjacent turnsof the sinusoidal wire intersect. The pattern of the struts 130 can beW-shaped or can be a more complex shape with the elements of one segmentcontinuing into the adjacent segment.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that drugs or other therapeuticagents can be applied to the stent 120 for release once the stent isimplanted. In one embodiment, an outer drug coating (not shown) can bedisposed on at least one of the struts. In one embodiment, the strutscan be hollow and filled with one or more drugs or other therapeuticagents, which can be released through perforations (not shown) betweenthe drug-filled central void and the exterior of the struts.

The cross section A-A of an exemplary weld region 138 in FIG. 2 withfirst strut 140 and second strut 150 is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3,which is a transverse cross section view of a weld region of a weldedstent made in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the first strut 140 includes a nickel titaniumalloy layer 142 and a nickel titanium soluble core 144. The nickeltitanium alloy layer 142 is disposed around and immediately adjacent tothe nickel titanium soluble core 144. Similarly, the second strut 150includes a nickel titanium alloy layer 152 and a nickel titanium solublecore 154. The nickel titanium alloy layer 152 is disposed around andimmediately adjacent to the nickel titanium soluble core 154. The nickeltitanium alloy layer 142 of the first strut 140 is connected to thenickel titanium alloy layer 152 of the second strut 150 with weld 160.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the transverse crosssection of the struts 140, 150 is not limited to the circular crosssection illustrated but can be any cross section (e.g., square,rectangular, ellipsoid, or the like) as desired for a particularapplication. The dimensions of the nickel titanium alloy layers and thenickel titanium soluble cores can be selected in light of a variety ofconsiderations, such as strut stiffness, weld composition, weldability,and the like. In one example, the strut outer diameter can be in therange of 0.002-0.010 inches. In one example, the thickness of the nickeltitanium alloy layer can be in the range of 0.0005-0.004 inches. In oneparticular example, the strut outer diameter can be 0.007 inches, thediameter of nickel titanium soluble core can be 0.0022 inches, and thethickness of the nickel titanium alloy layer can be 0.0024 inches.

The weld 160 is formed from melting together portions of the nickeltitanium alloy layers 142, 152 and the nickel titanium soluble cores144, 154. The nickel titanium alloy layers 142, 152 are made of a nickeltitanium alloy, commonly known as nitinol. The nickel titanium solublecores 144, 154 are made of one or more nickel titanium solublematerials, which are defined herein as materials such as metals,mixtures, or alloys which are soluble with a nickel titanium alloy meltduring welding. Exemplary nickel titanium soluble materials includechromium, molybdenum, iron, and cobalt, singly or in combination asmixtures or alloys.

The nickel titanium soluble materials for the nickel titanium solublecores 144, 154 are selected to form a weld 160 having the desiredstrength and flexibility for a particular application. In oneembodiment, the nickel titanium soluble material is molybdenum, whichproduces a weld of a nickel titanium molybdenum alloy. Exemplary nickeltitanium molybdenum alloys can include nickel in the range of 45 to 55percent, titanium in the range of 40 to 45 percent and molybdenum in therange of 5 to 10 percent. The molybdenum in the nickel titanium solublecore can be maintained in place or can be removed to generate a centralvoid within the nickel titanium alloy layer. Optionally, the centralvoid can be filled with a drug or other therapeutic agent to be releasedafter deployment through perforations in the nickel titanium alloy layerbetween the drug-filled central void and the exterior of the struts. Inanother embodiment, the nickel titanium soluble material is a chromiummolybdenum alloy, which produces a weld of a nickel titanium chromiummolybdenum alloy, utilizing the same constituents as a commerciallyknown alloy by the name of Hastelloy C4. Exemplary nickel titaniumchromium molybdenum alloys can include nickel in the range of 60 to 70percent, titanium in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 percent, chromium in therange of 14 to 18 percent and molybdenum in the range of 14 to 17percent. Other exemplary nickel titanium soluble materials includechromium and iron, utilizing the same constituents as a commerciallyknown alloy by the name of Nimonic 75 (Ni 20-Cr 5-Fe0.6Ti), as well aschromium and cobalt, utilizing the same constituents as a commerciallyknown alloy by the name of Nimonic 90 (Ni 20-Cr 18-Co 3-Ti). Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the nickel titanium solublematerial for the nickel titanium soluble core can be selected as desiredfor a particular application. Those skilled in the art will furtherappreciate that many of the benefits of commercial alloys, such asHastelloy C4, Nimonic 75, or Nimonic 90, can be achieved withoutrequiring the exact constituent percentages of the commercial alloy.

FIGS. 4A-4C, in which like elements share like reference numbers, aretransverse cross section views of a weld region in a method ofmanufacture of a welded stent in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 4A is a transverse cross section view of a weld region in a methodof manufacture of a welded stent before welding. The first strut 240includes a first strut nickel titanium alloy layer 242 and a first strutnickel titanium soluble core 244. The second strut 250 includes a secondstrut nickel titanium alloy layer 252 and a second strut nickel titaniumsoluble core 254. The first strut 240 is positioned adjacent the secondstrut 250 at the weld point.

FIG. 4B is a transverse cross section view of a weld region in a methodof manufacture of a welded stent during welding. Energy 270 is appliedto the first strut 240 and the second strut 250 to melt portions of thenickel titanium alloy layers 242, 252 and the nickel titanium solublecores 244, 254, to form a weld pool 260. The weld pool 260 is a mixtureof nickel titanium alloy and nickel titanium soluble material inpredetermined percentages to produce the alloy desired for the weld. Thenickel titanium alloy layers 242, 252 are made of a nickel titaniumalloy, commonly known as nitinol. In one embodiment, the nickel titaniumsoluble cores 244, 254 are made of molybdenum, so that the weld pool 260is a mixture of nickel, titanium, and molybdenum. In another embodiment,the nickel titanium soluble cores 244, 254 are made of a molybdenumchromium alloy, so that the weld pool 260 is a mixture of nickel,titanium, molybdenum, and chromium. Other exemplary nickel titaniumsoluble materials include chromium, molybdenum, iron, and cobalt, singlyor in combination as mixtures or alloys. The welding parameters and thesize of the weld pool can be controlled to form a weld pool that willproduce the desired weld for a particular application. Exemplary weldingmethods include arc welding, laser welding, and resistance welding.

FIG. 4C is a transverse cross section view of a weld region in a methodof manufacture of a welded stent after welding. The weld 262 forms fromcooling of the weld pool 260. The weld 262 connects the nickel titaniumalloy layers 242, 252 and can also connect the nickel titanium solublecores 244, 254. In one embodiment, the nickel titanium soluble cores244, 254 can be removed to form central voids, which can be left hollowor filled with a drug or other therapeutic agent.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of manufacture of a welded stent inaccordance with the invention. The method of manufacturing a stent 300includes providing a first strut 302 having in transverse cross sectiona first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a first strut nickeltitanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer beingdisposed around and immediately adjacent to the first strut nickeltitanium soluble core, the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer beingmade of a nickel titanium alloy, the first strut nickel titanium solublecore being made of a nickel titanium soluble material; providing asecond strut 304 having in transverse cross section a second strutnickel titanium alloy layer and a second strut nickel titanium solublecore, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed aroundand immediately adjacent to the second strut nickel titanium solublecore, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer being made of thenickel titanium alloy, the second strut nickel titanium soluble corebeing made of the nickel titanium soluble material; positioning thefirst strut adjacent to the second strut at a weld point 306; at theweld point, melting portions of the first strut nickel titanium alloylayer, the first strut nickel titanium soluble core, the second strutnickel titanium alloy layer, and the second strut nickel titaniumsoluble core to form a weld pool 308 including the nickel titanium alloyfrom the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer and the second strutnickel titanium alloy layer, the weld pool further including the nickeltitanium soluble material from the first strut nickel titanium solublecore and the second strut nickel titanium soluble core; and cooling theweld pool to form a weld 310 connecting the first strut nickel titaniumalloy layer to the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer.

The providing a first strut 302 and the providing a second strut 304includes providing struts with nickel titanium alloy layers disposedaround nickel titanium soluble cores. In one embodiment, the first strutand second strut are part of separate continuous sinusoidal rings. Inanother embodiment, the first strut and second strut are part of asingle sinusoidal wire.

The nickel titanium alloy layers and nickel titanium soluble cores ofthe struts provide the source material for welding the first strut tothe second strut. The composition of the nickel titanium alloy layersand nickel titanium soluble cores can be selected to form a weld havingthe desired strength and flexibility for a particular application. Thenickel titanium alloy layers are made of a nickel titanium alloy,commonly known as nitinol. Exemplary nickel titanium soluble cores canbe made of molybdenum or a molybdenum-chromium alloy. Other exemplarynickel titanium soluble materials include chromium, iron, and cobalt,sinqularly or in combination as mixtures or alloys. Particular exemplarycombinations of nickel titanium soluble materials include chromium andiron, which produces a nickel titanium chromium iron weld, as well aschromium and cobalt, which produces a nickel titanium chromium cobaltweld. In one embodiment, the struts can include perforations through thewalls of the struts between the central void and the exterior of thestruts to permit removal of the nickel titanium soluble core from thecentral void within the nickel titanium alloy layer and optionally topermit filling of the central void with a drug or therapeutic agent.

The positioning the first strut adjacent to the second strut at a weldpoint 306 can include positioning the struts with the assistance of ajig or other device to assist welding. Once welded, the struts of thestent form a tubular body. The first strut and the second strut canoptionally be prepared for welding by cleaning, degreasing, or the like.

The melting portions of the strut nickel titanium alloy layers and thestrut nickel titanium soluble cores to form a weld pool 308 can includeselecting welding parameters, such as duration, temperature, energydeposition, and the like, to form a suitable weld pool for theparticular application, depending on the materials of the strut nickeltitanium alloy layers and the strut nickel titanium soluble cores. Thesize of the weld pool can be controlled to melt a desired amount ofmaterial from the strut nickel titanium alloy layers and the strutnickel titanium soluble cores to form a weld pool and subsequent weld ofthe desired composition. Suitable welding methods include arc welding,laser welding, and resistance welding.

The cooling of the weld pool to form a weld 310 can include controllingcooling rate and annealing the weld to form the desired phase andcrystalline structure in the weld. In one embodiment, the nickeltitanium soluble core of the first strut is connected to the nickeltitanium soluble core of the second strut by the weld.

The method of manufacturing a stent 300 can further include removing thefirst strut nickel titanium soluble core to form a first strut centralvoid, which can be left hollow as a central void or filled with a drugor other therapeutic agent. The nickel titanium soluble cores can beremoved in one or more of the struts, or all of the struts. When thenickel titanium soluble material is molybdenum, xenon difluoride can beused to vaporize and remove the molybdenum. In one example, a core ofmolybdenum reacts with xenon difluoride (XeF₂) gas at low pressure (1-6Torr) and relatively high temperature (approximately 150° C.) to formmolybdenum hexafluoride (MoF₆) and xenon (Xe) gases, which can beexhausted to form a central void within the strut nickel titanium alloylayer. In one embodiment, the xenon difluoride is introduced to themolybdenum through perforations in the wall of the strut nickel titaniumalloy layer, and the resulting molybdenum hexafluoride and xenon gasesexhaust through the perforations to the exterior of the struts. Inanother embodiment, the xenon difluoride is introduced to the molybdenumof the nickel titanium soluble core which is exposed at open ends of thestruts, and the resulting molybdenum hexafluoride and xenon gasesexhaust through the open ends. The open ends can then be sealed ifdesired.

After forming a strut central void, the method of manufacturing a stent300 can further include filling the first strut central void with a drugor therapeutic agent. One or more of the strut central voids, or all thestrut central voids, can be filled. In one example, a drug ortherapeutic agent solution is drawn into the strut central void bycapillary action, then the drug or therapeutic agent solution can besolidified. In one embodiment, the drug or therapeutic agent isintroduced to the central void through perforations in the wall of thestrut nickel titanium alloy layer, through which the drug or therapeuticagent is released after the stent is implanted in a patient. In anotherembodiment, the drug or therapeutic agent is introduced to the centralvoid through an open end of the struts, which can then be sealed ifdesired. Perforations can then be formed in the strut nickel titaniumalloy layer between the drug-filled central void and the exterior of thestruts to allow release of the drug or therapeutic agent afterimplantation.

Drug, as defined herein, includes any drug, therapeutic agent, bioactiveagent, or the like intended to affect the structure or any function ofthe body of man or other animals. The drug can include a polymer and adrug, or a drug alone. Exemplary drugs include any drug, therapeuticagent, or bioactive agent that can diffuse through a selected polymer,such as an antirestenotic drug (e.g., rapamycin, rapamycin analogue, orrapamycin derivative to prevent or reduce the recurrence or narrowingand blockage of the bodily vessel), an anti-cancer drug (e.g.,camptothecin or other topoisomerase inhibitors), an antisense agent, anantineoplastic agent, an antiproliferative agent, an antithrombogenicagent, an anticoagulant, an antiplatelet agent, an antibiotic, ananti-inflammatory agent, a steroid, a gene therapy agent, an organicdrug, a pharmaceutical compound, a recombinant DNA product, arecombinant RNA product, a collagen, a collagenic derivative, a protein,a protein analog, a saccharide, a saccharide derivative, a bioactiveagent, a pharmaceutical drug, a therapeutic substance, a combinationthereof, and the like.

A drug coating can be applied to the exterior of the stent if desired.The drug coating can include a polymer and a drug, or a drug alone.Exemplary polymers include any polymer compatible with a selected drugor therapeutic agent, i.e., polymers such as BioLinx® polymer,poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene-vinyl acetate), polyurethane,polycaprolactone, polyglycolide, poly(lactide-co-glycolide),poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), silicone, an acrylicpolymer, an acrylic and acrylonitrile copolymer, a latex polymer, athermoplastic polymer, a thermoset polymer, a biostable polymer, abiodegradable polymer, a blended polymer, a copolymer, combinationsthereof, and the like.

It is important to note that FIGS. 1-5 illustrate specific applicationsand embodiments of the invention, and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure or claims to that which is presentedtherein. Upon reading the specification and reviewing the drawingshereof, it will become immediately obvious to those skilled in the artthat myriad other embodiments of the invention are possible, and thatsuch embodiments are contemplated and fall within the scope of thepresently claimed invention.

While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presentlyconsidered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thescope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and allchanges that come within the meaning and range of equivalents areintended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing a stentcomprising: providing a first strut having in transverse cross section afirst strut nickel titanium alloy layer and a first strut soluble core,the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around andimmediately adjacent to the first strut soluble core, the first strutnickel titanium alloy layer being made of a nickel titanium alloy, thefirst strut soluble core being made of a soluble material; providing asecond strut having in transverse cross section a second strut nickeltitanium alloy layer and a second strut soluble core, the second strutnickel titanium alloy layer being disposed around and immediatelyadjacent to the second strut soluble core, the second strut nickeltitanium alloy layer being made of the nickel titanium alloy, the secondstrut soluble core being made of the soluble material; positioning thefirst strut adjacent to the second strut at a weld point; at the weldpoint, melting portions of the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer,the first strut soluble core, the second strut nickel titanium alloylayer, and the second strut soluble core; at the weld point, mixing themelted portions of the first strut nickel titanium alloy layer, thesecond strut nickel titanium alloy layer, the first soluble core, andthe second soluble core to form a weld pool; and cooling the weld poolto form a weld connecting together the first strut nickel titanium alloylayer, the second strut nickel titanium alloy layer, the first solublecore, and the second soluble core; wherein the soluble material isselected from the group consisting of chromium, molybdenum, mixturesthereof, and alloys thereof.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the weldfurther connects the first strut soluble core and the second strutsoluble core.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing thefirst strut soluble core to form a first strut central void.
 4. Themethod of claim 3 further comprising filling the first strut centralvoid with a drug.
 5. The method of claim 3 wherein the first strutnickel titanium alloy layer includes perforations between the firststrut soluble core and the exterior of the first strut, and the removingcomprises removing the first strut soluble core through theperforations.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the soluble material ismolybdenum, the method further comprising contacting the first strutsoluble core with xenon difluoride to form a first strut central void.7. The method of claim 1 wherein the soluble material is molybdenum andthe weld is a nickel, titanium, and molybdenum alloy.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the soluble material is a molybdenum chromium alloy andthe weld is a nickel, titanium, molybdenum, and chromium alloy.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the first strut and second strut are part of asingle sinusoidal wire.